Sunday, May 30, 2010

I have hardly noticed the cold rainy weather we are experiencing here as I seem to be totally emersed in checking out all 600+ blogs on online Quilt Festival. I have made my way though about 150 blogs so far and thought I would share with you this great discovery. A relatively new Canadian quilting magazine is in stores and is on it's 4th issue, don't know how I missed this one. One of the contributers to the magazine Krista from Poppyprints is allowing her blog reader to use this above photo to spread the word about this magazine. Then while checking out some more blogs I discovered that the quilt in the cover of this magazine was made by Marlene, a fellow Manitoban. Check out her blog Sipiweske Designs

If your interested in this magazine it is available at Chapters/Indigo or you can subscribe to it online HERE

Friday, May 28, 2010

I had this fabric collection in my hands a few times at our Quilt Show Merchant Mall but resisted the urge to BUY even thought I really liked it. For some strange reason I can't just buy a fabric collections if I don't have a plan for it....and it doesn't have to be a grand plan. Just an inkling of who I could possible make a quilt for out of the fabric would be good enough to justify the purchase. But no one came to mind.

So when my client brought me her quilt top I was very happy to see it was pieced with this collection, YAH!!!!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

I am participating in my first online Quilt Festival put on by Amy at Amy's Creative Side blog. So far there are over 600 blogs participating and I'm sure more will join by the end of the week since this is such a great idea.

The quilt I have posted for the Festival is one I quilted last summer and was a guild mystery project. I had only owned my longarm machine for 8 months when I quilted it and it was my first attempt at molar feathers and pebbles. I was thrilled at how it turned out! This was a huge confidence booster for me when it comes to custom quilting so that is why I chose to post it. Hope you enjoy the pictures and please click on the link below to see the rest of the show.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

It has been raining here since Sunday so no outdoor pictures for this quilt. I had fun custom quilting this baby quilt for a client. Lots of loops and my favorite Carla Barrett design..feather feather swirl.

Since the weather has been so cool and rainy I have decided to repaint the boys bedroom. It was a bright primary yellow but now it is a relaxing grey blue. The boys share a very small room and I think that is rare these days for sibling to share but they like it. No TV, no computer....just a dresser and two beds...simple simple. We bought the boys new bunkbeds on Saturday that have a dark brown stain so with the blue walls give the room a 'grown up' feel.

I have a plan for new quilts for their room too but that will be my main project this summer...if summer ever arrives here!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Happy Times is the name of the pantograph I used on my clients adorable baby quilt. It is a simple but very effective pattern that I like to use on quilts that have panels since it does not overpower the pictures. I used a medium green So Fine thread that blends with the border fabric.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

I got busy on Monday and finished the two other baby quilts. One I just did straight line quilting and the other I used pantograph called Drip. I thought this was a really fun panto, love the swirls and feather shapes combined.

So yesterday was Guild Day and it was my first meeting in my new role as president. I was told afterwards that my 'ankles looked sturdy' while I was chairing the meeting so I didn't show my nerves. If I knew people were watching my ankles I would have been less nervous and even worn an anklet!

One of my concerns with taking on this role was that fact I can't raise my voice to get attention. I know that sounds dumb but it is true...have you ever heard me talk loud?? I yelled at my kids once (okay maybe twice) and I had a sore throat for a week! I just can't do it. So when Audrey suggested I just stand and raise my hand to get attention....a teachers trick...I thought it was worth a try. I was shocked it worked so quickly. Within 5 seconds people were either looking at me with there hands raised or looking with great confusion like they missed something and didn't know what they were voting for. Don't know if it will have that same power again next time...might have to get even more creative.

For the last 12 years I have always learnt something new at each guild meeting . This meeting....spray 3M on quilted placemats after washing them, prevents staining. Also when doing paper piecing use one of those spiky rotary sewing wheels along the paper lines so you can see the lines from the back of the paper. I just might start doing that!

Monday, May 17, 2010

I originally thought I got the short end of the stick on this fabric bundle when Lori and I were divided up our fat quarter winnings. But I think I have changed my mind on this one. I know I would not have used this fabric on a bed quilt for myself but it really does make a cool baby quilt. Actually I pieced three baby quilt top out of the 10 Krakow fat quarters and here is the first on quilted.

It really coordinates nicely with the kids playfort!! Yah, a new place to take pictures.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Here is new Pantograph called Fantasia that I used on yet another quilts made out of my fat quarter winning. Using up 150+ fat quarters takes longer than you might think....and when you 'win' something it is surprising how much it ends up costing you!! Sure it makes a lot of tops but you still have to buy borders, binding, backing and batting. So becareful when you win something, it might just cost you more than you think in the end.

Here is the border fabric I'm going to use, it reads brown but has a lot of color in it.

I am leaning towards a redish brown inner border like the darkest color in the border fabric to keep it neutral or go more colorful with a blueish green inner border. It will all depend on how the dye session goes.

The picture on the left was done without the flash and the one on the right with a flash to show the blues and greens in it. It is amazing how different the same fabric will look with different lighting.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tim was away in Calgary this week for a conference so I was able to rearrange my livingroom furniture and layout my batik quilt blocks. It was nice to be able to leave them on the floor for a few days while I arranged and rearranged the blocks until I was satified with the layout. They are all sewn together now and I just need to get the borders on. Problem is I only have the outer border so I might just have to dye some fabric this week to make an inner border. Any suggestions as to what color to aim for?? I haven't dyed anything in this color tone before so it might take a few tries to get something that will be suitable. I want to dye the fabric for the backing too.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

So as I was working on my clients Block of the Month quilt (a 2005 guild project) I was getting a bit frustrated with my machine. It wasn't moving as nicely as it usually does so I had to work hard to move it were I wanted it to go. I cleaned the wheels and rails... but it still wasn't right. I then remembered a post on quilting forum that suggested waxing your rails to slow down the oxidation that causes the problems with the wheels and to improve the glide of your machine. So I found my furnature polish which had not been used since my son was one and desided that chewing on my coffee table was the best thing for teething. Son number two did this too. Why, i just don't know. Anyway so I rubbed just a little dab of wax on the rails and WOW....it was like the machine lost 20 pounds! I then had the opposite problem of it moving too easy. It took a few minutes to get use to but I am very glad I tried this.

I quilted the center of this quilt with the pantograph called Come Dance with Me and then I feathered the outer border. Used So Fine thread and Dream Blend batting.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

My client bought me this cute baby quilt and she was worried that I might not be too thrilled with the location of the prairie points. No probem....just couldn't quilt close to them. I thought they added a great design element to the quilt and she was also going to add them to the binding too. I had fun free hand quilting in the borders, I repeat the flower design out of the fabric.

Friday, May 7, 2010

I had to smile when my client said she had this quilt top ready for me. She just bought the kit at our Quilt Show a couple of weeks ago and when she was standing in line to pay for it she asked me if I could quilt it for her when she gets it done...in two weeks! I said I could quilt it in May and here it is done. So quilters out there take note...those kits you keep buying look much better finished than in there original packages!! Just ask my client, she will agree.

I used the Ground Cover Pantograph, Quilters Dream Blend Batting and So Fine Thread.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Scrappy quilts....I love how they look but everytime I play with my scraps to make one I can't get past the idea of sewing together two fabrics that don't match. I just can't do it!! But look how nice my clients quilt is...I know the end result will be great so why can't I just get over my 'phobia'. I'll keep trying.

The quilt is backed in a soft navy flannel and I used Navy So Fine in the bobbin and light Brown So Fine on the top. I used the Whirlygig panto.

Monday, May 3, 2010

What inspires your quilting designs? That question came to mind when I was taking pictures of my quilt this morning. This quilt is one I pieced about a month ago and quilted it this weekend. I felt compelled to just quilt straight lines on this one giving it a modern feel. And as I was trying to find the right location to take pictures the only place that felt right was on the dock.

Then I took this next picture and that is when I thought....could have this been my inspiration for this quilt? Hummm...we have been working hard to get the new dock built! One never knows where inspirations might come from.

Anyway I am really happy with how it turned out no matter what possessed me to just quilt straight lines.

Oh, I just received a shipment of new batting on Friday. Two rolls of Quilters Dream Blend and one roll of Deluxe Cotton which I have not ordered before. It is a 6oz batting ( Select Cotton that I have in the packages is only 4oz) and should have a nice loft when quilted.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

E's and 3's is the name of this background fill that I free-hand quilted on my clients baby quilt. It can be quilted tiny, like in the signature quilt a few posts ago, or large for a great edge to edge design.

I want to mention thread color here. Since the quilt show I have had a few people ask me how I chose my thread colors for a quilt so thought I should include pictures of my threads with my posts.

When you first look at this quilt you probably think right away to use white. White would be fine but I would only use white if I do not have any colorful threads that matched.

Since the backing fabric was this fun peachy floral I picked a peach thread for the bobbin. Then I chose a light green for the top. I could have used the peach on the top and it would have looked just as nice, I just prefered the green.

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About Me

I have been quilting for over 20 years and have turned my passion for quilting into a home business. Tamarack Shack Longarm Quilting opened it's doors January 2009 on the shores of Schist Lake in Northern Manitoba. I have recently moved to Emo, ON and looking forward to discovering all the beauty of the area and meeting new quilters.
This blog is where I share photos of my quilts as well as my clients quilts. I also enjoy dyeing fabric especially snow dyeing as we have snow 6 months of the year. I have thrown in few personal stories about living on the shores of Schist Lake and now I'm ready to explore and share photos of the area around Emo, Ontario as life isn't all about quilting.
Please feel free to contact me at tamarackshack1@gmail.com